Tranquillo

Tranquillo  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

                                        Make room for that which is capable of rejoicing,

                                      enlarging, or calming the heart- Gerhardt Tersteegen

Yesterday: great waves for body boarding. Today: calm and clear- a snorkeling day. It was so calm and quiet you could go around the "point" of the cove today. Ordinarily, the waves are so high. People will hike up to that point and jump in with their surf boards-gotta be good swimmers...Theres a big coral reef at the point which causes gigantic waves there-perfect for surfers!


Our friend, Aldo, theorises the moon controls the tides and the water is highest at the full moon. After a full moon, the sea is calmer. Aldo plants new aloe vera shoots after the full moon because he says the roots are drawn down to the water because it is lower. Not sure if this theory is scientifically proven but he grows amazingly huge and healthy aloe plants!

I tried once again to snorkel-not easy for me...I did force myself to take four breaths before coming up each time- progress. Not ready to go way out by the point yet-not willing to go anywhere, yet. Michael loves it and describes so many beautiful underwater worlds by the reef! He was out there for hours... Gabriel is still a bit hesitant to go out too far, but is very much at home under water with a snorkel. Allie got the hang of it and saw some neat things but was wary of the reef because she had no water shoes on. Smart girl!

 Bob from Oregon came down with his snorkel too and after a good time exploring, sat down by a log, pulled his hat down over his eyes, and had a snooze! Aldo dropped Andrea and her bike off and she joined the kids just having a calm, peaceful time in the water.

I discovered if you lie on your back and look up at the trees arching over you, it is a majestic experience all its own. Surreal. So that's what I did...floated gently where the sea took me, breathing in the fresh salt water and the expanse of the beauty of this mighty creation! Aware of my family nearby as we shared this day and the sea, each rejoicing n their unique experience of it!
Andrea came home with us-she is such a joyful child! Like her mom! She is like a melodic and cheerful little bird singing a song of happiness. It is infectious-just lifts your spirit being with those two! She and the kids played games and entertained themselves. Aldo and Mar came after supper and we had a lovely evening visiting. Mar speaks really good English and I am gleaning Spanish from her, especially when CoCo is trying to explain something and yell "Mama...how you say...?" Sometimes, though, things do get lost in translation. Nevertheless, we communicate from the heart in ways that often brings tears to our eyes. I am so drawn to Mar s optimism and joy-in-the-moment attitude...it is so genuine. Something we are aspiring to, practising, and reminding ourselves of every day...just is who she is.
When we practise mindfully experiencing the miracle in each moment, we discover, more and more, that we are gently holding (not hoarding) peace, joy, faith, wonder, and gratitude in spirit that is free and ever enlarging.
Tranquillo....